JESUS OUR SABBATH REST We must recognize that the weekly sabbath, i.e., Saturday, is not the real sabbath. It never was, and it is not now. It is a picture or a reminder of the real sabbath. The true sabbath is a rest; the Jewish sabbath is a shadow, a picture of that rest. All the Old Testament shadows pointed to Christ. They were predictions, foreviews, of the coming of the One who would fulfill all these remarkable things. Every lamb that was brought as an offering was a shadow of the work of Christ. Every burnt offering, every bit of incense that was offered, was a picture of the fragrance of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle was a shadow of him. The high priest, in his garments and his office, was a shadow of Christ as our High Priest. Read the book of Hebrews and you will see how beautifully all this is brought out. These Old Testament shadows were looking forward to the coming of the One who would fulfill these and thus end them. When the work of Jesus Christ was finished the shadows were no longer needed. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:13-17 (KJV). So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God [it is available to us now]; for whoever enters Gods rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10 KJV). That is what the true sabbath is, to cease from your own labors, your own efforts, your own activity; to cease from your own works. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30). Notice that twice in that passage is the word rest. One rest is given, the other is found: One is experienced when we first come to Jesus Christ. He gives us rest. Do you remember when you came to Christ? You simply believed what the Scripture said, that on the cross of Calvary he took your place, he died for you; he bore the punishment for your sin; he was wounded for your transgressions, he was bruised for your iniquity; and you believed that. Immediately there was a sense of peace flooding your heart, a quietness. You felt no more guilt, no more fear of death, no more need for painful efforts to win Brownie points with God. You were resting on the work of Another. Christ paid it all; you were freely forgiven. What a sense of rest that was! He gave it to you. There is no other Sabbath rest besides Jesus. He alone satisfies the requirements of the Law, and He alone provides the sacrifice that atones for sin. He is God’s plan for us to cease from the labor of our own works. We dare not reject this one-and-only Way of salvation (John 14:6 KJV). In the New Testament (Col.2:16; Heb.4:4 KJV), both these passages the apostle Paul clearly explains that the Sabbath day is not a required day to be observed by Christians. To the Hebrews in the Old Covenant they were under obligation, in the New Covenant neither Jews nor Gentiles are. There is no command after the death and resurrection for the Church to keep the Sabbath as an obligation to Christ. If one is to keep the Sabbath day as law then they are under the obligation to also observe the Sabbath year Lev.25:17 (KJV). What makes this interesting is that there are no more references to keeping the Sabbath after Acts 18:4-7 (KJV). This makes one wonder with the church becoming more Gentile than Jewish this fact would certainly be addressed in Acts 15 (KJV) or the epistles if wrong, but it is not. Certainly it would have been presented as an opportunity for correction as the gentiles were entering the Church. Since they would not be familiar with worshipping on the Sabbath day as the custom of Judaism. In Acts 15 (KJV) this letter is written to address the essential things required for the fellowship of Jewish and Gentile Christians together. The keeping of the weekly Sabbath, or the observance of any feast day, are not mentioned. Their conclusion was “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Acts 15:9 (KJV): “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Vs.21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath (Acts 15:24-25 KJV) Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the law-- to whom we gave no such commandment!” No such commandment, why? Because they were under a new covenant. The epistles were mostly corrective letters reinforcing what was taught in person by the apostles and to add further revelation to what had already been taught. There was absolutely no warning against Sunday worship that would be construed as pagan worship. In fact, we find it is the very opposite, they were given freedom where they did not have before. Col.2:16 (KJV) mentions not to judge on days, and Romans 14:6 (KJV) says that we can pick whatever day we want to observe to the Lord. Its up to our own convictions. From the primordial Church there was a transition (Acts 20:7 KJV). The writings show the early Jewish Christians kept both without any conflict, not like there is today. There was no challenge on this, unlike circumcision and the law that became a huge issue when the church was keeping the New covenant. They along with the apostle Paul believed Rom. 10:4 (KJV): “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” By trusting in Christs work the law is fulfilled perfectly. Christ is the end Greek- telos, meaning He is the goal of its intent. He completed it and we enter into what He did by faith. Some questions to ask yourself: who or what did the apostles preach-a day or the death and resurrection of the Savior? What saves someone? This is the message of the New Testament. There are three options, you can keep the Sabbath day and never be saved by Christ. You can be saved by Christ and never keep the Sabbath day or you can be saved and keep the Sabbath day by personal choice, but you cannot say for one to be saved they MUST keep the Sabbath. Love In Christ, Hank One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Romans 14:5-6 (KJV)
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 13:42:07 +0000
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